John Bateman?

[cpwigan]

Must have sent the wrong tickets He is a bit of a rough diamond; baby at an early age etc but lots of RL talent. Leader quality too.

[jobo]

Cracking player and a coup for us

[Kittwazzer]

Burke, Bateman and Hughes is a back row good enough for a Super League side already. That's our future right there and that's ignoring Farrell who at 23 is really in the same sort of age bracket and has his best years ahead.

Exciting times and a brilliant signing!

But as No2 Fan says, who will we let go?

[jobo]

Must have sent the wrong tickets He is a bit of a rough diamond; baby at an early age etc but lots of RL talent. Leader quality too.

If he turns out like Andy Farrell then jobs a good un

[cpwigan]

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... _to_Wigan/

[No straw damn us]

I wonder where the Lenagan is "trousering" the transfer fees brigade are now? Superb signing and IFL if you read this Daryl Clark from Cas should be your next target, please.

[El Bobbers]

Should add a bit of height to the squad too.... The ever accurate Wikipedia has him listed at 189m tall!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Batem ... _league%29

No wonder there hasn't been a mad rush to replace Pat

[East Stand Faithful]

Jesus Crest, what a signing!!!! This lad is already quality but he has SO much potential to be anything he wants to be. Wire has been after him for a few seasons and I like most presumed he would go there if he left Bradford.

Maybe he's one of the rare few who just aren't interested in backstage passes to meet One Direction?

I don't fancy a backstage pass myself :eusa7:

[Kittwazzer]

Bateman does come with baggage tho, but I'm sure in the Wigan environment he will prosper.

Rumours of drunken brawls, attitude problems towards the coach and being a member of the EDL being an example.

However Wigan are not Bradford and in a winning environment we currently now have two players that are hell bent on winning (Clubb and now Bateman) and his political persuasion certainly wont have an effect on his playing ability.

His injury record is also poor but as I've said the environment at Wigan he will be a success and will be conditioned by the best in the league.

The amount of forwards is quite disturbing tho something will have to give. Also rumours are abound regarding Hardacker rumour is he's keen to join us and Leeds are not happy with him.

I'm trying to work out why a gypsy would promote the EDL?

[DaveO]

Am guessing next year will be H's last, as Bateman is top quality. Who knows, maybe Koukash will pay a fee to take him "home".

H will be a free agent after next season so Koukash could have him for free if Wigan didn't want to keep him but at 28 Hansen is just reaching his peak and is exactly the kind of experienced player Wigan need to keep hold of to lead young players like Bateman, Hughes and Burke.

And that is ignoring the fact H is a genuinely top class player anyway as he proved once again in the GF. There aren't that many of those in our game!

Regardless of that we are going to have a lot of players over age 19 next season who are forwards and there simply isn't enough room in the 1st team for half of them so I hope those stupid U19 rules change or a lot of players are going to be sat idle.